With summer vacation right around the corner, students everywhere are looking forward to sleeping in, swimming, and taking full advantage of the sunshine. One subject you probably won’t find on their radar is orthodontic treatment, but this is actually an ideal time to start a new treatment like Invisalign Teen with Szymanowski Orthodontics!
We’d love for you to swing by our Facebook page and join the conversation about our very favorite summer activities, but in the meantime, let’s take a quick look at the Top 3 Reasons Summer Is The Best Season To Start Invisalign Teen.
1. Appointment flexibility
The school year is often so full of activities – both academic and extracurricular – that it can sometimes feel impossible to fit one more thing in. But it’s important to remember that your office visits don’t end once your orthodontic treatment begins! Even after you receive your first customized Invisalign aligner, we’ll still want to see you every 4-8 weeks for check ups to ensure everything is progressing as planned. It’s much easier to get into this kind of routine over the summer, when your schedule is more open. Our office is generally more flexible in these months as well! With many families vacationing or kids going to camp, we tend to have more appointments open up during the summer than at other times of the year.
The summer is also a great time to have your initial Invisalign consultation, which is complimentary here at Szymanowski Orthodontics. This appointment covers quite a lot of ground, and includes
digital photographs and x-rays to help analyze your specific orthodontic needs
a brief Q&A session with our treatment coordinator
a comprehensive oral examination
specific treatment recommendations
a discussion of the multiple payment options we offer, as well as a presentation of your insurance benefits
Unsurprisingly, it can last a while! Scheduling it for summertime means you don’t have to worry about missing school or any important assignments.
2. Time to get used to your aligners
Invisalign Teen may not have the learning curve more traditional braces do, but the aligner system does take some getting used to. Understanding how Invisalign works is the first step to successfully completing treatment.
The Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, and look a little similar to teeth-whitening trays. However, these aligners are custom-made so that your teeth can be moved in a sequence specific to you. Like braces, Invisalign move your teeth through controlled force, with one difference: Invisalign also controls the timing of this applied force. Treatment is split into stages, with only certain teeth allowed to move during each stage. These movements are determined as part of the unique treatment plan we’ll map out for you before designing your aligners.
Over the course of treatment, you’re supplied with a series of aligners, each of which will make slight adjustments to the position of your teeth. When the aligners are placed on the teeth, they cause the teeth to gradually shift from their current position. You’ll replace your aligners every 1-2 weeks, allowing the tooth straightening process to continue.
One of the biggest benefits of Invisalign Teen is that the aligners are removable, meaning there are no food restrictions and dental hygiene is much easier to maintain. However, the aligners must be kept in for 20-22 hours every day throughout the entirety of your treatment in order to be effective. Wearing them for less time than directed can result in extending your treatment time.
Without having any homework or school projects to worry about, summer is an excellent time to get into a good routine with keeping your aligners in for at least 20 hours a day.
3. More time for hygiene
Let’s face it – during the school year, it’s easy to slack on brushing your teeth the way you should be. Late night study sessions can leave you wanting to fall into bed without bothering to break out your toothbrush beforehand. But one of the most important things you can do to achieve a beautiful smile is to brush and floss properly every day. Invisalign Teen can straighten your teeth, but it’s up to you to keep them clean!
Here at Szymanowski Orthodontics, we feel so strongly about good oral hygiene that we reward our patients with Smile Rewards points for brushing well, regular cleaning, no new cavities, and more. These points can then be redeemed for exciting prizes. The best prize, of course, is a brighter, straighter smile! And the good news is that the Invisalign Teen system makes brushing a breeze. Simply remove the aligner, and brush and floss teeth thoroughly. To keep your aligner clean, you can either use a toothbrush with water, or the Invisalign cleaning system.
Summer smiles in Sacramento with Szymanowski Orthodontics
Hazy sunshine, lazy days, and a break from the stresses of school – summer is the perfect time to start your journey towards a straighter smile with Invisalign Teen, and Szymanowski Orthodontics is the perfect place to get you going!
We’ve got an experienced, talented team that believes orthodontic treatment is about more than just a straight smile – it’s about creating a healthy bite, teeth, gums, and bones. Your overall oral health is our goal, and we aim to provide customized, complete treatment to every patient we serve. That starts with our free consultation, so if you’re in the Sacramento or surrounding area, and ready to see what Invisalign Teen has to offer you, call us today at 916.993.4171 or click here to schedule an appointment. With a conveniently located office and a wide range of available appointment times, we’ve got what it takes to keep you and your teeth moving in a timely manner.
Whether it’s summer or winter, rain or shine, your smile is our priority!
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Dr. Szymanowski